Adjustable sleigh-shaft



(Np Model.)

I.'V. HICKS.

ADJUSTABLE SLEIGH SHAFTS. I

No. 307,302. 4 Patent ed Oct. 28, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA V. HICKS, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE SLEIGH-SHAFT.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,302, dated October 28, 1884.

Application filed Apr-i124, 1883.

T0 to whom it may concern:

No model.)

In Fig. l the shaft B is shown in the posi- Be it known that I, IRA V. HICKS, acitizen tion used when the horse travels in one of the of theUnited States, residing at Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Shaft for Sleighs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improved construction of sleigh-shafts, whereby their use is facilitated and greater safety and simplicity secured. Y

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a top View of the device connected with a sleigh; Fig. 2, a detached part enlarged, and Fig. 3 a side and sectional view on line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

F is a sleigh, and B a shaft or thill. The draw-bar D, secured to the sleigh, is provided with three eyes, if, in position shown in Fig. 1. Between two of said eyes, on the front side of the draw-bar I), is secured a plate, It, of such a length that a space or recess, f f is formed between each end thereof and the eyes i. The shaft- B is provided with supports 0 0 and a coupling-rod, a, secured at one end to the thill or shaft and located through said supports 0 P. Thecoupling-rod a is loosely located in the eyes t, two or three at the time,

' according to the position of the shaft B. One

end of said rod a is left free, and extends a little beyond the support 0. The coupling-bar support 0 serves as a lock by entering a recess, f Fig. 1, thus holding the shaft from getting out of place.

sleigh-tracks.

In the operation of adj usting the shaft, when desiring that the horse shall travel between the tracks in well-beaten roads,where thereis no center ridge, the shafts B are raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, (which throws the lock 0 out of the recess, and to such an angle that it will pass by the plate R,) then slid over to the position shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines,

and lowered to its used position again. This movement throws the lock 0 into the other recessf and the free end of the coupling-rod a into the third eye, 1, before unused.

The shaft B may be readily shifted, when the horse is hitched to the sleigh, by raising up on the rear end of the sleigh until the lock 0 and recess f are in the same position to each other as when the shaft is raised, as in Fig. 3.

\Vhat I claim is The conibination,with the draw-bar having the plate rigidly secured to its front side, with a recess at each end, of the coupling-rod secured to the shaft and provided with the lock support, adapted as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have here unto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. 1

IRA V. HICKS. \Vitnesses:

G. HECHT, H. B. OsBoRNn. 

